“Going Back in Orange and Black,” an exhibition at the Mudd Manuscript Library, highlights the unique wardrobes of Princeton’s Reunions from the 19th century to the present.

Below left: This photograph of the class of 1976 at its 25th Reunion is among the items on display. The photo, from the July 4, 2001, issue of the Princeton Alumni Weekly, shows the alumni decked out in their class jackets.

Photos courtesy of Mudd Manuscript Library

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History of Reunions wear on display through Jan. 30

Posted May 30, 2006; 08:00 a.m.

by Staff

"Going Back in Orange and Black," an exhibition at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library,
highlights the unique wardrobes of Princeton's Reunions from the 19th
century to the present. The exhibition will run through Tuesday, Jan. 30, in the library's Wiess Lounge.

The exhibition conveys the
distinctive character and spirit of Reunions through a display of
vibrant costumes and accoutrements. Changes in Reunions fashion and
accessories over time are evident in the array of fabrics, patterns and
forms on view. The exhibition also reveals the evolving role of women,
both wives of alumni and graduates, and the participation of children
in Reunions festivities.

Culled from the Mudd Library's vast
collection of Reunions-related memorabilia, items featured in the
exhibition include Adlai Stevenson's class of 1922 25th Reunion class
jacket and pins and ribbons dating to the class of 1860's 40th Reunion.
Among the unique and lesser-seen Reunions-wear are genuine tiger claws,
which the members of the Society of the Claw -- begun by the class of
1894 -- used as tokens to encourage alumni to return to campus every
year. Society members pledged to attend Princeton Reunions annually and
received tiger claw fobs for their watch chains to remind them of their
pledge.

Other displays include ladies' orange satin scent bags
from the late 19th century, a child's orange- and black-striped class
of 1911 Reunion jacket and many photographs of alumni at Reunions,
including John Foster Dulles (class of 1908), Jimmy Stewart (class of
1932) and Brooke Shields (class of 1987).

A portion of the exhibition honors the anniversary classes of 1956 and 1981, which mark their 50th and 25th anniversaries, respectively, this spring. Highlights of the classes' time on campus are conveyed through a display of photographs and other materials. Among the events documented are the 1956 varsity football team's clinching of the Ivy League title and the class of 1956's revival of the senior step singing tradition. Also on view are images related to coach Pete Carill's 250th coaching victory with the 1981 men's basketball team and the institution of the Program in Women's Studies in 1981.

"Going Back in Orange and Black" is open from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. Beginning in June, exhibition hours will be 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.